West Kilbride

This lovely links is often overlooked as it is just a wee bit north of the highly acclaimed coastal courses in Ayrshire. It is about a 30 minute drive from Prestwick to the town of Seamill near the ferry terminal at Ardrossan. At Seamill you turn left from the main road down a narrow entrance to the seaside links.

In 2014 the weather was superb on this day, just as it had been in my earlier visit. You can't find a better setting with lovely houses above the course on one side and the sea on the other with superb views across to the Isle of Arran.

The holes are quite varied , but none particularly long, and the greens are excellent. If you are playing here for the first time then you need to be careful at the semi blind 2nd hole and the short par 5, 3rd which has out of bounds all along the right.

There are no really long par 3's here but the 172 yard 12th is one of the best of the short holes with a well bunkered green an out of bounds for any shot pulled left. There are a few unusual hole such as the 13th with a stone wall alongside the green and the short par 4, 11th which tempts you to open your shoulders and take on the bunkers.

See photos - View across the course from the 2nd hole at West Kilbride